The Platinum Guide Blog

Maharanis, Thursday is here, and with it, another romantic story comes your way! Christine & Shivam are a gorgeous couple who said "I do" to a new journey as one soul. They decided to host their wedding celebration at the exclusive Brooklake Country Club. My dears, this place has magical views, gorgeous sunsets, and the best part, you are assured of their undivided attention because they host only one wedding at a time. I think this place is excellent for making your romantic wedding a reality! Every wedding plan deserves the best team. Our couple went with Blissfully So, and their choice was great! This team planned the wedding perfectly and teamed up with Nirali Decor and SK Floral Expressions to create the perfect flowery ambiance for every event. Maharanis, I cannot emphasize enough how charming every detail of the wedding and the reception was. Our couple looked happier than ever! Along with this phenomenal planning and decoration, the musical touch was perfect. Thanks to the enthusiasm Amit Kapoor delivers, every single guest danced and celebrated the love Christine & Shivam have for each other. Now it is time to talk about the impressive hair and makeup by Cindy Naylis-Pin It Up & Pout and the beautiful dress Indian Ethnics designed for our lovely Christine. She looked like the gorgeous Maharani she is. Ishan Fotografi is the perfect duo conformed by the talented husband and wife behind the most incredible photographs of this remarkable wedding. But don't take my word! Take a moment to enjoy the jaw-dropping gallery we have put together for you. I promise you will love it, not to mention that you'll get tons of inspiring ideas!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
I first met my groom, Shivam in spring 2012 through a community service organization in college, called Circle K International, and we saw each other over the years at various Circle K events. After graduating college we both moved to New York City around the same time in 2015. When Shivam realized I was also living in the city, he asked me to meet up for happy hour after work one day. For two people who didn't really know each other, we ended up talking for over four hours. We finally went on our first official date a few months later, and that was all I needed to know he was the one.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Shivam was dropping all sorts of hints before we got engaged so I had a pretty good feeling it was going to happen soon. We were celebrating our dating anniversary and Shivam had wanted to recreate our first date. He made plans to go to a nice brunch restaurant in the Meatpacking District and then walk the high line together. We ended our walk on a pier along the Hudson River which is when he got down on one knee and pulled out a beautiful ring. He surprised me later that night by taking me to a bar near my apartment where all our friends had gathered to celebrate with us.

Tell us how you went about planning your wedding, and your overall experience with the Venues, Hair & Makeup, Outfits, Decor Theme, and all of the other important details.
I knew I wanted a wedding that honored both cultures and religions, and I knew that was easier said than done so... Shivam and I both agreed we needed to have a long engagement! We got engaged in June 2019 and took our time deciding on a venue and date eventually booking for May 15, 2021. We found a venue near where I grew up, the Brooklake Country Club in Florham Park, NJ that was so flexible in meeting all our needs with number of guests, Indian and American catering, etc. I knew I wanted to have a Hindu ceremony in the morning with a break, then a Christian ceremony in the evening followed by cocktail hour and reception. To make it easier for guests, we decided to have the Hindu ceremony at a hotel in the morning so that after the ceremony, guests could change at the hotel before shuttles would take them to Brooklake for the evening events. We decided on the Westin Governor Morris in Morristown, NJ which was just ten minutes from the evening venue. In January 2020 we had finally booked the venues, and both our families were happy with our plan for the wedding. 

Of course by March 2020 we faced totally new challenges due to the start of the pandemic. At first we thought we would be fine for May 2021, but as the date got closer we knew that plans would have to be adjusted. The pandemic definitely took a lot of the fun out of wedding planning, but I tried to keep things in perspective that we were very fortunate that our family and friends were all healthy. I like to plan as much as possible far in advance, but we held off on a lot of planning because there was so much uncertainty due to the pandemic. In the end, we went ahead with May 15 and cut our guest list in half due to the restrictions at the time. We got very lucky that the vaccine rollout started to pick up by March so we encouraged our guests to get vaccinated in time for our wedding (even helping some guests to schedule appointments). We ultimately had about 90% of our wedding guests vaccinated in time for our wedding which made us feel a lot more confident to move forward with it.

My in-laws also arranged to have the wedding livestreamed which ended up working out so well! Shivam and I had many friends and family tune in to the livestream, and they really enjoyed that they could still be a part of our wedding even if they could not physically be there.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
My mother-in-law and sister-in-law were very helpful taking me shopping for my Indian clothes and jewelry shopping. I looked at several different lenghas, and eventually decided on a traditional red lengha from Miss India in Edison, NJ. I loved the heavy gold work in the dress because I knew I most likely will never wear a dress like that again. In the evening, I wore a traditional Stella York ivory wedding gown that I picked out shopping in NJ with my mom and sister.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
As our wedding date got closer, my mother-in-law took my mom, sister, aunt, and cousins to Edison to shop for Indian clothes. We ended up having so much fun shopping together! I was happy my family got some of the Indian shopping experience and both families got to know each other better. 

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
I think our guests really appreciated that we truly had a fusion wedding. For many guests, it was their first time attending an Indian wedding, and they loved getting to see the baraat and Hindu ceremony, and dressing up in traditional Indian attire. For many people on Shivam's side, it was unique for them to get to attend a Christian wedding ceremony so they really enjoyed seeing that part. Shivam and I also wrote our own vows for our Christian ceremony, and many guests told us that they really enjoyed this because they got to know us as a couple better. I was overall so grateful that we were able to have our guests experience both wedding ceremonies on the same day. This was my original vision for our wedding to be a true celebration of both cultures and religions, and I was really happy that our wedding was unique in this way.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
Years ago when I went to my first Indian wedding, I remember LOVING the baraat. It's like having a big party in the parking lot before your wedding, and why wouldn't you want to kick off your wedding day with a party in the parking lot!! For this reason, having a fun baraat was SO important to me (although I know the baraat is for the groom's side, not the bride).

For our wedding, my sister-in-law helped Shivam and I plan some "flash mob style" dances to surprise our guests at the end of the baraat. The groom's side still started the baraat as usual, but I told anyone from my side to join too. I waited for the baraat to reach the site of the ceremony with some of my family members. It was a really nice time to relax with my family and take in the day before things got too crazy. As the baraat reached us, I could see Shivam dancing with his parents, and it made me so happy. I felt so lucky in that moment to be marrying into such a beautiful culture with such fun traditions.

My sister-in-law arranged for a few different groups to do some choreographed dances when the baraat reached the ceremony, and I joined the dances at the end. Our guests LOVED the surprise performances. It was a part of the day, where I had to remind myself that I wasn't dreaming, and this was actually my wedding.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
My advice for brides-to-be is to make sure you don't lose sight that your wedding day is really for you and your partner. There is so much that goes into planning a wedding, and so many people are involved. It's easy to lose sight of what the day is really about. I had a few really special moments with my husband throughout our wedding day, but I wish I had carved out more time for us. I think your wedding day is one of the few times where you're allowed to be a little selfish so try not to worry too much about your wedding guests. If your budget allows, maybe hire someone who can help throughout the day so that you don't get caught up worrying about the random little details and can enjoy your day more.

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
This should go without saying, but just in case... There are a lot of important details that go into planning a wedding, but THE most important part is the partner waiting at the end of the aisle for you. Wedding planning is really tough, but all of us brides should try to keep things in perspective and remember, we are already the lucky ones because we found our partners.

Best of luck to all the brides planning their weddings

My dears, that is all for today! Come back tomorrow for more love and romantic stories!

Brooklake Country Club, The Westin Governor Morris and Blue Nile are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Happy Tuesday Maharanis, today is the last day of November, and we should celebrate it with a new romantic love story. Suganthinie & Jayant hosted a gorgeous event at The Tides Estate. One of the best places you could choose to celebrate a big day like your wedding. Trust me! You cannot go wrong with a venue like this. They offer you spacious, tastefully decorated banquet rooms which can accommodate events of any size. Isn't that amazing? Along with the elegant venue choice, this lovely couple wanted to create unbelievable decor to make a nostalgic memory. That is why they call the professional team Blooming Brides. Maharanis, this talented team put together the perfect flowery ambiance that made every guest feel like they were in a dream. Our Suganthinie & Jayant were all about pampering their guests. That is why the musical talent of Gemini DJ and DJ Milan was the way to go! This duo knew how to make everyone dance! It was spectacular! I know they all had a blast! My dears, I think it is time to mention how beautiful and elegant our Maharani looked. Color Me Rouge did a splendid makeup and hair job to highlight Suganthinie's natural beauty. And not only that, but Color Me Rouge also did the most dedicated Mehndi art, worth a standing ovation! The lovely bride wore exclusive designs by Nazraana NJ and Maharani Fashions; she looked like the Maharani she is. New Jersey Videography captured jaw-dropping shots, thanks to which we get to relive the happiness reflected on this couple's face during their big day. So wait no more and get ready to enjoy this spectacular gallery overflowing with beauty and inspiring ideas. You will love it!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
Suganthinie and Jayant met in 2019 during the late spring in West Hartford, Connecticut. Suganthinie had just moved to the United States and started her residency training at Connecticut Children's while Jayant was almost finished with his second year of residency at Yale. Jayant was living in New Haven at the time and drove up to West Hartford which is about 40 minutes away. He had just come from a wedding the previous day and had no idea what was to happen. He ended up waiting 45 minutes before Suganthinie, who had been having doubts about meeting up, finally showed up. They had dinner at Barcelona Wine Bar before finally leaving in his car. On subsequent dates, Suganthinie was never late again. As the months passed by, the pair grew closer and closer with each one going to Hartford or New Haven whenever possible. They would lean on each other whenever things were difficult especially when the pandemic started. When the pandemic started, there were a lot of changes that occurred in each other's work schedule. The net result ended up them spending more and more time together. Every moment with him felt so easy and natural. We both feel so lucky that we were able to find our soulmates.

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
When the pandemic started, there were a lot of changes that occurred in each other's work schedule. The net result ended up them spending more and more time together. They had a week off in during which they would go on several day trips where they would hike. One such hike happened at Bear Mountain in southern New York state. Upon reaching Bear Mountain, Suganthinie said to Jayant that it would be really nice if he would propose in Aspen, Colorado. With his usual calm demeanor, Jayant simply said that it certainly would be nice. Suganthinie wanted to pick an interesting hike which ended up being quite challenging. Although the hike required climbing steep slopes requiring built in chains in order to hike, the view at the top was simply stunning. It was a fantastic view of the Hudson River and New York city skyline at midday with clear skies and perfect weather. There was a bench close to the cliff that Jayant was waiting to be free, but there were several bicyclists occupying it. When they finally left, they sat on the bench and ate sandwiches that Suganthinie had prepared. After they finished eating, Jayant casually turned to Suganthinie and popped the question. Jayant asked Suganthinie to marry him to which she said yes... And so here we are together today!

Tell us how you went about planning your wedding, and your overall experience with the Venues, Hair & Makeup, Outfits, Decor Theme, and all of the other important details.
Our wedding would not have been possible without our family and close friends from all over the world. We decided to get married in Jersey as Jay is from there. Once we were able to find our dream wedding venue for the ceremony and reception, we sat down and made a detailed to-do-list. Fast forward a year, a few hundred international phone calls, zoom meetings and emails, we were able to find our awesome vendors through the help of Knot and word-of-mouth recommendations.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
My Mom and my sister traversed many shops all over London and found beautiful saris in London for my ceremony. I'm so grateful to Casipillai Designer Collections and Venisons, london. My family here were also super helpful and we went to Eddison multiple times to find my reception outfit. I was able to find my wow dress there at Maharani Fashions.

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
It gave us an opportunity to work closely with my partner and our families.

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
We had so much positive feedback about so many different aspects of our wedding and they were so glad that the pandemic didn't stop them from attending our wedding.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
The first look at the Mandap will always be special for me! And, our first dance at our reception at our beautiful venue.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Celebrate every win as a couple—no matter how big or small! Inspire each other to be better daily. Always make time for each other.

Anything else you want to tell us? We'd love to hear all about your other details! (jewelry, mehndi, venue, cake, bouquets, etc.)
I would like to make a few special mentions to my wonderful stylist Meghna Parikh, Mike Stroganoff (banquet manager), Joann Montague from Blooming Brides, Steven Powell from Fred Astaire Studios, DJ Milan as well as ZM Gajra Re.

They were a fantastic team and really went out of their way to help make our day possible. Meghna went out of her way to make my vision come true in terms of my make-up and hair. I will always be grateful for her getting me food in the middle of my photo shoot at my reception. The flowers were stunning and we had such fantastic reviews from our guests! Mike from the Tides went out of his way to cater to all our needs and really pulled out a stellar night. And of course, DJ Milan along with Alberto made sure that the event ran smoothly. We are so blessed to have found our dream team!

That is all for today, darlings. See you tomorrow for a new romantic story!

The Tides Estate and Color Me Rouge are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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Tuesday seems to be a super romantic day to fall in love! Maharanis, today's love story belongs to Katherine & Sahil. These lovebirds said "I do" at a lovely cathedral, St Paul's Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Then, they hosted a gorgeous reception at Crest Hollow Country Club. A place where the wedding of your dreams comes to life in the most extraordinary way! Maharanis, we all know that every grand event deserves the best décor. Stylish Events and the luxurious details they offer made this wedding a heavenly fairytale. The newlyweds called the best DJ in town, DJUSA Events, to ensure the joyful dancing was present during the entire wedding reception. Everyone was astonished by their musical taste! Maharanis, it is time to mention how gorgeous and classy Katherine looked. Thanks to MakeupByGurdeep Corp. and The House of Makeup's incredible makeup and hairstyle and the exclusive bridal dresses designed by Paisley Bridal and Aaina, our lovely bride looked like the Sweet Maharani she is. Every time Sahil looked at her, he knew he had made the best decision by choosing her as his life partner! Fine Art Photography & Video recorded every moment of this wedding event and produced the most beautiful film for the couple to relive their big day. The photographs compiled in the fantastic gallery below were captured by one of the most professional teams, Studio KSD. So, don't wait any longer and go check it out! I promise you will love every shot!

My beloved Maharanis, come back tomorrow for a new adorable love story.

Studio KSD and Stylish Events are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

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For more information on how Platinum Guide members are chosen, click here.

Tuesday, a romantic day to say "I do" to a new love story. My gorgeous Maharanis, today the protagonists are Bhavna & Siddarth. A lovely couple who decided to celebrate their love with Punjabi and Sikh Wedding Events. One of the most memorable celebrations this beautiful couple hosted was at the luxurious Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles. They know the secret to a flawless wedding is uncompromising attention to detail. So, to make the venue even more perfect, Maryam Shah - Embellish LLC put together a magical décor that made everyone feel like they were in a dream. The lovebirds wanted to make every guest feel the music to celebrate their love; that is why they called DJ Shiv - Shivish Entertainment. This team certainly played the best music selection and provided the energy to keep everyone on the dance floor! Bhavna & Siddarth couldn't be happier! The music really brought everyone together to have a well-deserved good time. As we all can agree, every grand celebration deserves the best catering. Diya Bistro prepared exclusive dishes for the big day, and let me tell you; they fascinated our lovebirds and guests. Along with a delicious dish comes the sweetest three-tier wedding cake. Sultana Sweet Delights - Tahirah Khan baked a delightful treat that I am sure our lovebirds still hear good comments from their guests. It was a cake to remember! Maharanis, let's admire the undoubtedly couple's beauty. The bride was astonishing, thanks to Bridal Elegance by Suman Khosla. They did an exceptional hair and makeup job that caught everyone's attention. They also dressed our Maharani in the perfect gown. Henna By Shazia also did an incredible Mehndi art that made our Bhavna even more charming. Ted Baker London pampered the groom with a classy tuxedo. He looked handsome! Beauty, fashion, and elegance are words that represent these newlyweds. Monika Chadda enchanted everyone with the coordination of a fantastic dance with some of the couple's friends and cousins, along with a solo performance of our Maharani's favorite Punjabi folk song, Lathe de Chadar. To relive the most significant moments of this event, Maria Fasih Studios captured a beautiful set of photographs. And we've put them all together in this charming gallery for your enjoyment. So make sure to check it out! I promise you will love it!

How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
I’d lived in New York for several years when Sid and I matched on a popular dating app - Coffee Meets Bagel. I remember our first date vividly. We met at a quaint sushi restaurant in the Upper West Side for lunch, and instead of going off to run errands afterwards as planned, we ended up spending over six hours together! We made our way through various Upper West Side bars, talking about everything under the sun. It was like we had been friends forever and I was super excited to see him again.

Given Sid had just moved to the New Jersey to start his Endodontics residency, meeting was difficult. But we met whenever we could, and we both always left our dates feeling so comfortable and at ease...usually after sharing an amazing meal together. It was clear we had built a foundation of friendship which is so important in a relationship. But a few months later, I found out some amazing news - I was moving to California for a dream job at Google! Sid was so supportive of this, but we decided it may not be the best time do pursue a relationship, especially long distance. We did, however, decide to remain friends.  Our friendship continued with many phone calls and FaceTime calls, until  on a whim, I invited him on a work trip to Barcelona - and he said yes! It only took about one romantic meal and a glass of wine the first night for us to realize we couldn’t fight destiny any longer. That weekend was the most special weekend of my life, because I realized I was in love with my best friend. The rest we say, is history!

Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
Sid was wrapping up his residency and I was taking a work trip to Singapore. The timing fell right around our one year dating anniversary, so we decided to make a big celebratory trip out of it! The plan was to spend a few days in Singapore after my work event and then fly out to Langkawi, Malaysia for some beach time. We arrived late on a Saturday night so we could spend some time exploring on Sunday before work kicked off for me on Monday. I woke up Sunday extremely jet lagged and cranky, but Sid suggested we go watch the sunrise at the Singapore Orchid Gardens - a UNESCO site right outside the city. The morning was a mess. I accidentally flooded my hotel bathroom when showering (long  story), Sid blew out his lower back, and I ended up realizing I needed to finish one thing for work before my event on Monday. By the time we made it out to the gardens, not only had we missed the sunrise, but it was over 90 degrees, humid, and extremely crowded. We walked around  and made the best out of it, but we both surely weren't in the best of moods. It was only as we were leaving the gardens, Sid noticed a beautiful fairway full of lush green grass and suggested we sit and take everything in after a whirlwind morning. As we finally were able to relax and chat about being together for a year and how happy we were, I was staring out at the beautiful landscape. I didn't even realize Sid was getting the engagement ring out of his pocket! It was then he popped the question, and of course I said yes. Given the time difference, we were able to just enjoy the moment and celebrate 1:1 for several hours before we made our calls to our family and friends back home, which made the moment all the more special.

Tell us how you went about planning your wedding, and your overall experience with the Venues, Hair & Makeup, Outfits, Decor Theme, and all of the other important details.
We were supposed to be married in May 2020, but the universe had a different plan for us and the many other would-be 2020 brides and grooms! I am extremely detail oriented and admittedly picky, so while I did get stressed at times, I really enjoyed the process of planning out every last detail of the wedding. Thus, when we had to cancel our wedding in 2020, we really just had to think about "lifting and shifting" the majority of our plans to a rescheduled date.

Coming from Punjabi families, we knew we wanted to have all of the traditional Punjabi and Sikh wedding events, while mixing traditional and western traditions. We held two events at my parents' house: a Chunni (engagement) ceremony for the families, and a Mehendi for all of the female guests.  I always knew I wanted to do some of my wedding events at my parents home and it really exceeded my expectations! It was extra special as my sisters and I did the design and decor on our own for the home events.

Our sangeet and wedding venue, the Westfields Marriott, was a dream. The #1 reason I wanted to have our wedding there was because of their beautiful terrace surrounded by lush greenery -  I always wanted to have an outdoor Anand Karaj (Sikh Wedding Ceremony) and the terrace was just perfect for it. I had a really clear vision for our ceremony - a simple, clean rustic theme - and ur decorator, Maryam, absolutely nailed my vision. I loved the reception hall we chose for the. massive chandelier and the huge windows. We kept the decorations simple with a same green and white motif as the ceremony.

How did you select your bridal lengha or wedding dress? Did you have a favorite color in mind?
When I went to India (New Delhi) for my wedding shopping, I never expected to fall in love with such a traditional dress. I was laser focused on something modern and non traditional, probably in a light pink! But the second I tried my dress on, ONLY due to the insistence of my mom and Masi (aunt), I knew this was "the one."

My wedding lehenga featured a burgundy satin velvet blouse embellished with zadozi embroidery, done with dabka, nakshi, sequence and zarkan work, in intricate goodly floral jaal and dense merging grids, paired with tonal satin velvet lehenga embroidery inspired with tradionational architectureal, floral and grid patterns, coupled with tonal embroidered net dupatta with scalloped heavy border and floral jaal all over. From @frontierraas "Regalia" collection, I felt like a real life Punjabi Queen from the Mughal Empire! My outfit featured a second dupatta in a light peach net to compliment my husband's sherwani, which featured peach dabka embroidery, and our bridal party's peach and gold outfits. It was pulled together with a matching crystal tassel belt.

My beautiful kundan chooda, from @sangini_accessories in Delhi,were paired with ruby and gold kalire.

I kept my wedding jewelry fairly simple, with an antique champagne stone and ivory pearl choker, matching earrings and tikka, and a pearl embellished naath (nose ring).

What was the most enjoyable part of the planning process, and why?
The most enjoyable part of the wedding planning process was definitely pulling all of our looks together and doing wedding shopping in India. Given work constraints, we only had 8 days to shop for clothes and accessories for myself, Sid, Sid's brother, my mom, my two sisters, two nieces, two nephews, AND our bridal party of 15 (!), for 4 events total. Though stressful, it ended up being really fun to find the perfect pieces and we literally would be out from dawn to dusk each night. When we returned home each evening, we would do a show and tell for our family of the days finds. We got really lucky that we were able to stay with our family that lives in a great area for new and upcoming designers, Shahpur Jat, so I was able to find some really unique pieces.

Once we finalized our outfits, I really loved the process of figuring out "the look" for each event. Shout out to Suman Auntyji for helping me bring my vision for each event to life!

What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
After a year and half of being stuck in the house during a pandemic, I know our guests really loved the intimacy of a small Indian wedding (which is pretty rare) and the energy on the dance floor the sangeet and reception night. We would be remiss if we didn't give DJ Shiv a HUGE shout out for absolutely killing the music selection and providing the energy to keep everyone on the dance floor until the very last minute. He took it all in stride for some our guests favorite dance floor moments, including letting me steal the mic for impromptu raps and speeches, an impromptu limbo session during the reception, and many "naagin" (snake move) dance circles. The vibe was just perfect each night and really brought everyone together to let loose and have a well deserved good time.

We also are still hearing from our guests about our wedding cake, which was a three tier "Rasmalai Inspired Cake" from a local baker, Tahirah Khan, of Sultana Sweet Delights, as well as the Chole Bhature at the wedding lunch, which was made by our wedding caterer, Diya Bistro.

Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
The wedding ceremony itself. I didn't expect to feel so emotional, but I was just so overwhelmed with love for Sid and our family and friends, most of whom traveled from all over the country to be there, freshly vaccinated in the midst of a pandemic. During our "lavaan" (marriage rounds) three of my best friends turned brothers - Rob, Satwant, and Gurpreet- stood at each corner, as well as my cousin brothers Vikas, Amit, and Deepak. I felt so blessed and loved having them by my side during such a milestone moment. My sister, Reena, who is a beautiful singer, sang a Shabad (Sikh Hymn), accompanied by her husband, Eran, on the keyboard. After the Anand Karaj, Sid and I exchanged our own vows, which were from the heart and brought both of us to tears. It was truly a wedding representing a union of two souls, as well as two groups of friends and families.

I should note that during our ceremony, there were tons of cicadas flying around. The 17-year cicadas  hide underground and only make their appearance every 17 years, like clockwork, in the northeastern quarter of the United States in order to mate and lay their eggs before going back underground. Remaining underground for so long gives the next generation a survival advantage when they eventually emerge again in 17 years. While they weirded out some of our guests for sure, in looking back, I find the symbolism of the cicadas being present at our wedding to be really beautiful. It's almost how we all had to quarantine for a year before the wedding and then emerged for a beautiful union and beginning :)

Also during my Sangeet, my parents surprised us with a “Punjabi tappe,” which was called “Kothe te aa Mayya.”

For events other than your ceremony, please tell us as much as you would like about the decor, style, dances, and all the special details.
It was awesome to have the chunni ceremony the day before formal events, as it served as a sort of "welcome dinner/meet and greet" for our extended families. For the Mehendi, my friends, who live all over the country, flew in and came straight to my house and kept me company while I was getting my mehendi done. For the official function, we sang traditional Punjabi wedding songs and also some American hits like Backstreet Boys, accompanied by the dholki!

On Saturday morning we had the choora ceremony while Sid (the groom) had his haldi ceremony with his family. It was so fun to see my kalire fall on the heads of ALL my single friends, which means they are all next to the wedding altar. That evening we had the Sangeet, hosted at the hotel, where our friends and family surprised us with a slew of singing performances and dances! Sid and I are both very much into music and I am a HUGE dance/Bollywood fan so I always dreamt of a performance-filled Sangeet. We had songs sung by cousins, friends, uncles, our siblings, and my parents, as well as speeches from Sid's best friend Prashant and my best friend, Courtney. For the dances, my best friend Monika, who is an TOP NOTCH choreographer, coordinated a huge dance with our friends and cousins, along with a solo performance of my favorite Punjabi folk song, "Lathe de Chadar." My sisters Reena and Navita, and best friends Gurpreet and Namita, also did amazing Bhangra dances. To top it off, my little niece, Iyla, and nephew, Evin, did their very first Bollywood dance, and we all melted!  Sid and I also surprised the crowd with a couple's dance to "Morni Banke." This was probably one of the most special moments, as Sid is not a dancer, and had never performed before! Just for me, he learned this choreography so we could fulfill my dream of having a true Punjabi Sangeet -- and he killed it!!!

Sunday was the big day. We kicked off with Sid's Baraat, where he chose to ride in a white Jeep Wrangler Renegade decorated with marigolds instead of the traditional white horse. Before entering the building, we had the Milni ceremony and my bridesmaids and bridesman made sure no one would enter until the groom paid up :).

The reception was the grand finale of the weekend. Sid's brother, Sunny, and his uncle and mom made very heartfelt speeches. My sister, Navita, also made a beautiful speech. I surprised Sid with a singing performance of Etta James' "At Last," to express how much he means to me. Much to our surprise, our family, friends, and nieces and nephews had more dance performances planned, the highlight being an epic performance to "Jalebi Baby," a classical performance by my sisters to "Ghar More Pardesiya," and dances by my brother in laws, Vani and Eran. The rest of the night was followed by many drinks and non-stop dancing in true Punjabi style.

Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Choose vendors you connect with and trust. You end up spending a year or more with these people planning, and if you have the wrong people by your side, you should trust your gut to go with someone else. There should be nothing stressful about your wedding weekend . If you feel that will be the case during your planning process, you should act accordingly.

I'd also say make sure you get your timeline for the weekend right and go over it several times with ALL of your vendors. For example, your photographer should confirm you have enough time for photos etc., your caterer should have input on when the food should be set up, etc. That synergy is key to ensuring everything runs smoothly! I'd also say have a point of contact for both families to assist with moving things along, even if you have a planner.

Maharanis, that is all for today, come back tomorrow for more!

Bridal Elegance by Suman Khosla, Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles and Maria Fasih Studios are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

Bridal Elegance by Suman Khosla VIEW PORTFOLIO

Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles VIEW PORTFOLIO

Maria Fasih Studios VIEW PORTFOLIO

For more information on how Platinum Guide members are chosen, click here.

Thursday is here! Maharanis, Sundes & Marc's love story comes to get you inspired! This gorgeous couple said "I do" to a new life together and decided to host the celebration of their love at the exclusive Edgewood Country Club. Let me tell you, my dears, I think this place is fantastic to make your dreamy wedding plans become a reality! Thanks to the professionalism of Xquisit Events, every detail of this wedding excelled the couple's expectations! Along with this fantastic planning, two teams, Olivia Floral Designs and Lax States, worked together to create the perfect ambiance to make sure everyone felt like they were on a fairytale. As we all know, every magnificent event deserves excellent music. Our couple knew this, so they decided to call the award-winning M4U Events. Their passion and enthusiasm made everyone dance and put the guests' hands in the air. I am sure everyone had a blast! Maharanis, let me tell you something that called everyone's attention, Sundes Mehndi art. SakhiBeauty Salon New Jersey pampered our Maharani with a beautiful art design that made her look perfect. She caught all the attention in the room! Studio KSD was in charge of the most important detail of this wedding, the memories. This team recorded a beautiful film for the bride and groom to relive their magical moment. They also captured a beautiful set of photographs that will melt your heart. They are astonishing! Check out the gallery and see what love represents!  

My beloved Maharanis, that is it for today! Come back tomorrow for more. 

SakhiBeauty Salon New Jersey, Xquisit Events, Studio KSD and M4U Events are members of the Platinum Guide. Love what you see? Explore their portfolios.

SakhiBeauty Salon New Jersey VIEW PORTFOLIO

Xquisit Events VIEW PORTFOLIO

Studio KSD VIEW PORTFOLIO

M4U Events VIEW PORTFOLIO

For more information on how Platinum Guide members are chosen, click here.